Krispy Creme Donuts!

Every Thursday I take the scholars for a double period of Geography. By this time in the afternoon we're falling over a little. It's the day before the penultimate day of the week (this being a six day school) and there's always that feeling around  - that perhaps a little boost is required.

I started it I'm afraid. Early in September, it's 3.30pm and I popped out a few Kit Kats. 'This'll give us the impetus to get through till 4.10,' I said.

The following week, one of the girls brought out a Coffee Cake, the week after that it was Giant choc chip cookies - and so it has gone on. Everyone has taken a turn - the rules evolving until everything has to be home made.

Until today.

The last full day of the term - and it's Krispy Creme donuts - and mine was the splendid little number above. Initially I turned it down. 'I'm on a fitness kick'.

'But you started it! You have to have one!

And so it came to pass (it was really rather lovely)

My house, in the middle of my street (amended)

We had a lovely Matron in Wilton House called Lily. Sadly, she had to leave us when her husband secured a position in the warmer climes of Oman and decided that his needs had priority over ours. Quite right too.

So one Sunday morning I embarked on this watercolour, to give her when she left. This is where we all live. The Wilton Lawn faces south and on a sunny summer day, it's truly the place to be. Remember those sunny summer days Lily? 2010 wasn't it?

A few thoughts on the week

There was a couple cycling into town today, highly visible in their fluorescent yellow jackets. 'Very sensible,' thought I. And then I noticed that the fellow was also sporting a fluorescent showercap affair over his helmet too. Looking like a matchstick, but with a shiny yellow striking end.

No. That's all there is to say about that. Just no.

Other news ......

Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Ian Stannard have been ripping up the roads lately on behalf of us Brits. Good on yer lads - but have I tuned in to watch on Eurosport?  No. Exams, reports, boarding strategies, life in general all got in the way. So again .. just no.

And have I enjoyed significant weight loss this week? Again .. no.

But I have enjoyed reading Donna Leon's Inspector Brunetti novels in those early morning and late evening slots. And I did manage to watch two episodes of 'Borgen' - the excellent Danish drama about the inner workings of Parliament. No real action, loads of political dialogue and lots of sitting around cabinet tables drinking coffee. Great artwork on the walls though - just don't try to do anything else whilst watching - subtitles!

And I did manage a thirteen mile ride on Tuesday morning - during which I mused on life in general - and pondered which coffee shop to drop into on the way home. A slow ride, a fatburning ride - a pre breakfast ride - designed to get the metabolism going before you tuck into granola and yoghurt. We'll see how that goes then.

Say hello!

Recently, I posted a joke about a bicycle. It drew a comment from someone who said "That's my favourite joke too!" I was thrilled! Someone had read my blog!

And now I've discovered the stats button. And there seem to be regular visits from the USA, Germany and one single individual from Singapore!

Originally, I wanted to use this blog as  'dumping ground' for memories and musings - so they didn't get lost. But now I like the idea that others are reading it too and I'm keen for feedback, so I know I'm talking to someone.

Also, writing a blog just about cycling does see a little limiting - and I do like to write....so I've decided to add snippets of other stuff from time to time, and continue to post the odd picture that's nothing to do with Velomania.

In the UK we are gradually emerging from another dreary bout of weather. Mornings are lighter, evenings longer and we're grabbing every opportunity to get out for some Vitamin D when the sun puts in an appearance. Jo makes a point of grabbing the seat in the sunshine when we venture out for coffee - in this case Cafe Rouge in Cheltenham. However, still not that warm, hence the favourite puffy jacket!

So.... are you out there? If you check in ..... post a comment? A bientot!

The day of wanton spending

Today, Jo and I set forth unto town.  Once there we had a coffee (no surprise there!) but not before buying me two new pairs of shoes and three new jumpers for work - an outstanding haul considering all I really went in for was a cycling magazine and the Sunday Telegraph.

So now I'm musing - how do these random acts of purchasing come about, should they be avoided and if so - how?

Well.... it all started yesterday when we visited that Swedish emporium IKEA - written in shouty capitals, as that how it appears, big, blue and boxy as you drive into Bristol on the M32 motorway.

I've wanted to create my own workspace in our flat for some time, and a browse of their website told me that all I desire could be picked up in a onestop shop at their place. Quite right, and here's a quick photo of my new habitat below.

          

So this morning I'm up early, at my new desk marking Geography examinations, alarmed to discover that the Himalayas are now in Europe and Islamabad is now the capital of Norway. However, these dubious revelations aside, I'm also alarmed to discover that I'm worried that the staple (that's right.....THE STAPLE) binding the exam papers could just possibly scratch the top of my pride and joy, my new desk.

So .... off to town then to buy a 'Map of the World' soft mat to protect the top, and where do they sell these? That's right ..... Waterstones of the previous Blog post .... home of great books and coffee. However, this was to be a smash and grab raid, in .....get the item ..... out.

Meanwhile, Jo had heard of a shoe shop selling all odd pairs of shoes and boots for twenty pounds only. Odd,  meaning one shoe one size larger than the other shoe. So we go there first and there's nothing suitable for Jo at all. However, down in the mens' department, two pairs of very trendy canvas plimmies only ten pounds a pair! Now, feeling a little old lately, this is just the type of trendy item I need to make me feel better so ........ cash handed over ..... and they're mine. Hurrah!

Unbeknown to me, Jo is also harbouring guilt feelings about shrinking my favourite Teal Merino wool work jumper the day before yesterday. A crafty detour through Cav House Dept store and we're at the jumper counter, "Try on this grey one" says she. A red one and a blue one later, we're in the coffee shop and I'm a lucky fellow.

We did finally get to Waterstones for the 'Map of the World' soft mat - and my laptop is sitting on top of it RIGHT NOW..... NOT scratching the surface of my desk. Islamabad is back in Pakistan and all is well with the world.

How to avoid these random acts of purchasing? Don't go to town of course, don't worry about having a scratched desk, and don't worry about feeling old. Though more on this topic later.

“I was ready to take on the world until I saw the most marvellous little bookstore.”

 I’m not sure where I obtained this little quote, but I love it. Because there’s nothing Jo and I love more than dropping into a bookshop for a browse. If it has a coffee shop buried within we love it still more.

In Cheltenham there is one of significance,  the mighty Waterstones, and buried within, Costa Coffee. Our Tuesday morning destination, here we have wiled away many happy hours, caffeinating, browsing excellent books and whittling away an hour.  The cycling books are on the top floor, the art books on the bottom. Grab a few, and onto the middle floor for the coffee, free WiFi and a browse. It’s dangerous – I have browsed and fallen for so many books here. It’s where I choose my Christmas presents, and compile my wishlist. So that I don’t forget, I take a photograph – all praise my HTC One S smartphone camera (8 megapixels!)

I've found the time!

So.  No blogposts since December. And yet there has been a rich seam of events and  stories to write about and stuff to muse over.  No explanations needed for the break – sometimes it just happens.

However, lately I’ve been thinking about ...

1.       Lance Armstrong and his confessions (really?) I got up extraordinarily early to witness his remorse and hear his apologies. The most honest moment of the morning was when I told Beautiful wife Jo that I’d already had a bowl of Crunchy Nut cornflakes when I sat down later for ‘real’breakfast. They’re just so crunchy! And I’m not the only one to think so ... take a look at this excellent advertisement!

Crunchy Nut Dinosaur  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-9j0avaoPA

I don’t have a great deal to say about Lance. I’ve always wanted to have a positive blog,  so the best I can say is .... I’m glad I never took the time to read any of his books, therefore I had no illusions to be shattered. Move on all concerned – although I know there’ll be loads of news in the coming months about law suits, reclaimation of prize money, et al. Ho hum.

A cheap bit of symbolism from Paris 2010

2.       Coffee ... generally. And particularly with regard to my Baby Gaggia Coffee maker. Two months later and it’s proving to be a life changer. No need to leave the home to have a quality coffee – more on this later.

3.      Excellent subscriptions for Christmas for me and my boys  – many thanks from us three lads to you Auntie Rachel (boys),  Lovely Sister in Law (me).  Body transformations imminent!

 A year's worth of 6 pack ABS advice - but no cocaine problems to solve!

Beautiful Wife has started reading the ladies equivalent! Fitness abounding in our house!

4.       Starting up a peleton.  Last Tuesday, six school chums and I cycled out from school to Tewkesbury Costa for coffee and cake – it was the first ride out for the DC Peleton, numbers are growing on the staff and in a small Common Room of just over thirty staff we could (in theory) raise eleven roadies. More rides to follow – and perhaps a team shirt?

     L - R. Junior Forms, Husband of English, English, Geography, Science and Geography. Photo taken by IT!

5.       Snow!  Enough of it to close the school down, creating a long weekend and plenty of sculptures. I was amused by the notion put out by the Environmental Agency that we should all build an ‘Army of Snowmen’ in order to slow down the risk of flooding. Can you imagine how many snowmen we would need to cover our school field? And how long it would take?

Vehicles going nowhere!

Anyway, that lead nicely to The Turbo. Inevitably the snow leads to indoor riding and I’ve been having some quality times on the bike in the office. Movies, music, a view of the Cotswolds through the window....it’s not the road, but it’s still pretty good - Jo thinks so too – she doesn’t like me out on the road in the foul conditions – but it's good to keep the limbs spinning. I downloaded a training programme called Sufferfest from Sufferfest.com. It's called 'A Very Dark Place'. Important to have some variety on the turbo - we'll see how it goes.

Finally, a picture of Jo and our dear friends Suze and Nige, cycling near Chedworth in our glorious Cotswolds. Taken this last Sunday, a beautiful ride taking in some vigorous hill climbs, culminating in an obscenely large half a  roast chicken dinner in the Mill at Withington - a traditionally quaint Cotswold hostelry.